[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
US citizen imprisoned in UAE for parody video seeks pardon and compensation A news report on Shezanne Cassim, who has been in prison for nine months for his role in an online parody video.
Yemen to request membership of Gulf Cooperation Council Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi’s spokesperson is to request membership of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia shakes up state oil firm Aramco The Supreme Economic Council approves the separation of ARAMCO from the ministry of oil.
Saudi Arabia `arrests 93 members of Islamic State cells` The Saudi ministry of interior arrests ninety-three people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
Saudi king replaces crown prince in cabinet reshuffle King Salman relieves Prince Muqrin of his duties, and appoints nephew as the new crown prince.
Saudi Arabia shakeup as much about retrenchment as reform Simon Tisdall argues that Saudi Arabia’s game of thrones has taken a dramatic turn with the surprise royal decree.
Change in the name of stability for Saudi Arabia Michael Stephens maintains that the Saudi king appears to have understood that to keep things the same, sometimes they have to change.
Saudi king resets succession to cope with turbulent times Angus McDowall analyzes the implication of the question of succession in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi succession: Palace intrigues An Economist article on palace intrigues in Saudi Arabia.
New generation of Saudi royals set to rule Ismaeel Naar reflects on the new succession arrangement as Saudi Arabia is attempting to reassert regional leadership and reshape its ties with the West.
Saudi Arabia`s King Salman breaks with tradition Gerald Butt argues that the speed and range of decisions taken by King Salman have been unprecedented.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain’s crackdown on free speech could inflame sectarian tensions Emanuel Stoakes examines the political implication of Nabeel Rajab’s arrest for Bahrain.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen: Saudi Arabia used cluster bombs, rights groups says Human Rights Watch asserts that the Saudi-led coalition has used US-supplied cluster bombs.
Saudi Arabia denies deployment of ground troops in Aden Saudi Arabia denies reports of a limited deployment of special Arab forces in Aden.
Aid flights to Yemen blocked after Saudi Arabian jets bomb airport runway Planned aid flights to Yemen have been blocked after Saudi jets bombed the runaway at Sanaa’s airport.
Yemenis flee war-torn Aden to al-Qaeda-controlled city Saeed Al Batati reports on Yemenis who had to flee to al-Qa‘ida-controlled Mukalla.
With Saudi Arabia Faltering in Yemen, Power in the Region Has Begun To Swing East Alastair Crooke analyzes China’s “Belt and Road” initiative to find a solution to the war in Yemen.
Yemenis in Desperate Need of Food and Fuel After Weeks of Airstrikes Kareem Fahim reports on food and fuel shortage in Yemen.
Yemen crisis: Saudi Arabia `repels Houthi border attack` Three Saudi soldiers die during a major attack from inside Yemen.
Yemen crisis: Terrified citizens caught between Saudi Arabia and Iran as air strikes and blockade threaten humanitarian disaster for millions Patrick Cockburn reports on the impact of Saudi airstrikes on Yemenis.
A Saudi war going badly wrong Bill Law analyzes the failure of the Saudi military operation in Yemen.
An unwelcome exile A news report on Yemenis stranded in Egypt.
Media
Al-Jazeera journalists celebrate welcome turn in Egyptian retrial Jared Malsin reports on the trial of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.
Human Rights
Yemen: Saudi-Led Airstrikes Used Cluster Munitions Human Rights Watch reports on credible evidence that the Saudi-led coalition used banned cluster munitions supplied by the United States.
Dispatches: Don’t be Fooled by Saudi’s Reshuffle Adam Coogle, from Human Rights Watch, argues that the royal reshuffle will not bring about a new approach to human rights in Saudi Arabia.
Arabic
إنزال بري محدود لـ«التحالف» في عدن والمواجهات متواصلة في المحافظات اليمنية
A news report on a limited deployment of special Arab forces in Aden.
السعودية تراهن على «القاعدة» لإعادة هادي إلى عدن... أو حضرموت
Ali Jahiz argues that Saudi Arabia is counting on al-Qa’ida to weaken the Houthis in Aden and Hadramawt.
ملايين اليمنيين على شفير الهاوية
Millions of Yemenis live in a dire situation due water and food storage.
واشنطن تطلب مساعدة طهران بشأن اليمن
Washington asks Tehran for support with regard to Yemen.
عبداللهيان: أمن اليمن من أمن إيران
The Iranian deputy foreign minister asserts that Yemen’s security is a big concern to Tehran.
السعودية تدرّب القبائل لمواجهة «أنصار الله»
Saudi Arabia is training tribesmen to fight the Houthis.
السعودية: تأشيرات زيارة لليمنيين المخالفين
The Saudi authorities decide to correct the legal status of Yemenis who are staying illegally in the kingdom.
السعودية: مقتل 4 جنود خلال صدّ هجوم لـ"الحوثيين"
Four Saudi soldiers die during a Houthi attack on the Saudi-Yemeni border in Najran.
اجتماع طارئ لمجلس الأمن حول اليمن اليوم
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Yemen.
«عاصفة الفجر»: المُلك للسديريين وحدهم!
A news report on the royal decree that appointed Mohammed bin Nayef as the new crown prince, and Mohammed bin Salman as the deputy crown prince.
سلمان في قصر مقرن.. بعد إعفائه
King Salman visits Prince Muqrin in his palace after the royal decree that relieved him of his position as a crown prince.
فجر القلق السعودي في زمن الحرب
Khalil Harb analyzes questions that the royal decree raises.
السعودية: حكم الصبية
Fouad Ibrahim writes on the struggle within the Saudi ruling family.
محمد بن نايف: القبضة الأمنية
A news report on Mohammed bin Nayef, the first grandson of King Abdulaziz to become a crown prince.
محمد بن سلمان: الصعود السريع
A news report on the meteoric rise of Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi minister of defense, who became the deputy crown prince.
السعودية: محمد بن سلمان رئيساً أعلى لـ"أرامكو"
ARAMCO announces that the deputy crown prince will be the head of the company.
بروفايل | سعود الفيصل: 40 عاماً في صناعة... الوحول
A news report on the legacy of Prince Saud al-Faisal as Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister for forty years.
كيري: الفيصل أكثر وزراء الخارجية حكمة
John Kerry calls Prince Saud al-Faisal as the wisest of the foreign ministers.
بروفايل | الجبير: موظف بذهنية أميركية
A news report on Adil al-Jubeir, who was appointed as the Saudi foreign minister.
"مجتهد" يكشف تفاصيل عزل مقرن
A news report on Mujtahid’s tweets on the royal decree on succession.
السعودية: إحباط «محاولة انتحارية» لاستهداف السفارة الأميركية
The Saudi ministry of interior aborts “a terrorist attempt” on the US embassy in Riyadh.
خطة تركية قطرية لوقف نار طويل الأمد بين إسرائيل و«حماس»
Ali Haidar reports on a Turkish-Qatari plan to bring about a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
أوباما وآل سعود.. و"القاعدة" ثالثهما
The United States government decides to side with al-Qa’ida in order to see regime change in Syria.
محكمة بحرينية تقضي بإعدام متهم بقتل شرطي
A Bahraini court sentences a man to death on charges of killing a policeman.
قطر تستحوذ على 24 «رافال»: 6.3 مليارات دولار
Qatar is seeking to buy twenty-four Rafale fighter jets.
هولاند.. "ضيف شرف" القمة الخليجية
The French president will be a guest of honor during a Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
قمة سعودية – مصرية في الرياض
A news report on a Saudi-Egyptian summit in Riyadh.